MTN deals with AIRCOM to improve network

UK-based vendor AIRCOM International has been selected by MTN Afghanistan to improve the quality of the cellco’s network.
AIRCOM will provide the South African-backed operators with its AIQ intelligent optimization managed services solution and consultancy services.
The vendor will identify problems with the cellco’s network and suggest improvements to increase efficacy.
Commenting on the deal, CEO of MTN Afghanistan Hassan Jaber said: ‘Network performance is of critical importance in ensuring we continue to meet our customers’ growing expectations.”

MTN Afghanistan’s selection of AIQ follows an extensive end-to-end network audit carried out by AIRCOM. In this audit, AIRCOM comprehensively examined MTN Afghanistan’s network performance and optimisation requirements, assessing its radio access network, transmission network, circuit switching core, billing system and packet switching core. This audit was intended to identify existing network glitches, with AIQ then recommending a series of ongoing techniques to improve network quality of service, increase subscriber numbers, and improve revenues.

AIRCOM will be instrumental in identifying and resolving areas of MTN Afghanistan’s network that might be over or under-dimensioned. This will enable the operator to improve transmission and RAN quality of service and maximise spectrum efficiency. AIRCOM will be able to identify the bottlenecks affecting network performance, where routing can be improved, and where additional capacity may be needed. This will reduce dropped call rates, improve areas of low signal strength – especially indoors – and ensure that roaming revenues are captured.

“MTN Afghanistan is continuing in its wide-ranging project to improve and optimise every part of its network, and we’re very proud to be part of that,” said Alwyn Welch, CEO, AIRCOM. “This is our third major project in Afghanistan and we’re very pleased to be extending our working relationship with MTN Afghanistan.”

MTN Afghanistan was awarded the second GSM licence in Afghanistan, entering the market in 2006. In July 2012, the company was awarded a license to deploy 3G services.